Hildegard of Bingen | Artist
Hildegard von Bingen aka Saint Hildegard aka Sibyl of the Rhine was a German Benedictine Abbess, writer, composer and philosopher Born 1098 in Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Germany. Hildegard was a remarkable woman whose influence reached far beyond her time. Her life and works have left a lasting impact on fields such as theology, music, and natural history. She entered religious life at a young age and eventually became the abbess of a Benedictine monastery in Rupertsberg. She is best known for her visions, which she documented and interpreted in her writings. These visions became the basis for much of her theological and philosophical work. Despite facing opposition from the church, Hildegard remained steadfast in her beliefs and continued to share her insights with others. One of Hildegard's most significant contributions is her musical compositions. She is considered one of the earliest known composers in history, and her musical works are still performed and studied today. Her compositions, which include liturgical songs and morality plays, are known for their expressive melodies and inventive use of musical notation. There are more surviving chants by Hildegard than by any other composer from the entire Middle Ages, and she is one of the few known composers to have written both the music and the words. In addition to her musical talents, Hildegard was also a prolific writer. She authored several theological works, letters, and two volumes on natural history and medicinal uses of plants. Her writings often reflected her holistic view of the world, combining spiritual and scientific insights in a way that was ahead of her time. Hildegard's contributions to natural history were particularly noteworthy. In her works "Physica" and "Causae et Curae," she detailed the medicinal properties of various plants and stones, as well as the concept of the interconnectedness of all living things. Her writings on natural history were based on observation and experience, and they demonstrated a deep understanding of the natural world. Throughout her life, Hildegard corresponded with emperors, popes, and other religious figures, sharing her wisdom and insights. Her letters and advice were sought after by many, and she was widely respected for her intellect and spiritual guidance. In 2012, she was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, recognizing her enduring impact on Christian spirituality and intellectual thought. Attention in recent decades to women of the medieval Catholic Church has led to a great deal of popular interest in Hildegard's music. In addition to the Ordo Virtutum, 69 musical compositions, each with its own original poetic text, survive, and at least four other texts are known, though their musical notation has been lost. Standout modern recordings of her works include A Feather on the Breath of God (1982) by Emma Kirkby and the Gothic Voices, plus recordings by Sequentia: Ordo Virtutum (1990), Canticles of Ecstasy (1994), Voice of the Blood (1995), and Symphoniae (2004). Hildegard also invented an alternative alphabet Litterae ignotae (unknown language) which was essentially a secret code, much like a modern crossword puzzle today. Hildegard has become a figure of reverence within the contemporary New Age movement because of her holistic and natural view of healing, as well as her status as a mystic.
Artist Website: wikipedia/Hildegard_of_Bingen
Featured Albums: Hildegard of Bingen
Related Artists: Emma Kirkby, Hildegard von Bingen, Abbess Hildegard
